CONSERVATION
IUCN Redlist category Endangered (IUCN 2020)
Rationale for redlist categorization Papilio lampsacus has been assessed as Endangered under criterion B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). The species has a very restricted range, being known only from Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango in western Java. Based on the area occupied by the two volcanoes, the extent of occurrence of this species is around 750 km2, but the actual extent of occurrence of the species is likely to be much smaller, given that there are suggestions that much of the natural habitat of the species has disappeared. If it continues to survive in Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, its extent of occurrence is no larger than 500 km2. If the species is targeted by collectors (and it may fetch high prices), the area is likely to constitute few locations (maybe each volcano would be targeted separately i.e. two locations). However, much of the habitat is very difficult to access, and habitat loss has been witnessed particularly on the slopes of the volcanoes. The core area of the National Park appears to retain good forest cover and there has been very limited habitat loss since 2001, but loss (and gains, though unknown whether these gains constitute suitable habitat) has been observed on the fringes of protected area. As such, there is likely some evidence for a continuing decline in habitat extent and quality. Loss of habitat and collection could pose a significant threat to the species in the future, especially since it has been found for sale at high prices. Additional research is urgently needed on its population status and trends as well as its current distribution, to provide additional evidence for enhanced conservation action. Given the species is very rare in collections, we err on the side of caution in this assessment. (IUCN 2020)
Threat category Species mortality,Ecosystem conversion (IUCN 2020)
Cause of stress Intentional use (species is the target) (IUCN 2020)
Described Threats Due to its very limited range, this species may be threatened by habitat loss and possibly trade as it can be found advertised for sale online, though there are few known specimens of this species. The area surrounding Mount Gede and Mount Pangrango is currently protected in a national park, Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, established in 1980 and currently protecting around 220 km2 of land on and around the two mountains. However, a recent National Species Conservation Plan states that the natural habitat of the species has nearly disappeared (Mardiastuti et al. 2008). Specifically, forest cover on the slopes of the volcanoes appears to have been lost in the past; forest cover in the range of this species was estimated at 69% in 2000 and since then, relatively little of the remaining forest cover has been lost (0.70% decrease in tree cover since 2000 over the wider area, 0.37% within the area of the national park itself, around the fringes; Hansen et al. 2013). (IUCN 2020)
Commercial use This species can be found for sale by online sellers, with some prices being very high (November 2018); the reason for the very high price is that the seller describes the species as being considered extinct. (IUCN 2020)
Kind of conservation needed Site/area protection (IUCN 2020)
Applied conservation actions In a previous status assessment of the world's swallowtails, this species was not considered to be threatened, given that the species was considered abundant on Mount Gede (Collins and Morris 1985). However, given the lack of specimens for this species, it is doubtful it was ever abundant (D. Peggie pers. comm. 2019). The continued and effective protection of land in Mount Gede Pangrango National Park is crucial for the survival of this rare and very localised species. Potential habitat destruction on and around the two volcanoes should be strictly monitored. Protection of the land in the park may currently be successful, as there has been little to no loss of forest here over the past 18 years (Hansen et al. 2013). However, there are limited recent records for this species and research into population data and trends is urgently needed, as is information on the precise habitats and host plant of the species to inform the precise distribution of this species (Mardiastuti et al. 2008). A recent conservation plan for insects highlights the need to strengthen capacity and institutional support for insect research (Mardiastuti et al. 2008). (IUCN 2020)
REFERENCES
- Collins, N.M. and Morris, M.G. 1985. Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. The IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge.
- Hansen, M.C., Potapov, P.V., Moore, R., Hancher, M., Turubanova, S.A., Tyukavina, A., Thau, D., Stehman, S.V., Goetz, S.J., Loveland, T.R., Kommareddy, A,. Egorov, A., Chini, L., Justice, C.O. and Townshend, J.R.G. 2013. High-resolution global maps of 21st-century forest cover change. Science 342: 850-853.
- IUCN. 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 10 December 2020).
- Mardiastuti, A., Kusrini, M.D., Mulyani, Y.A., Manullang, S. and Soehartono, T.R. 2008. Arahan Strategis Konsevasi Spesies Nasional 2008 - 2018. Direktorat Jenderal Perlindungan Hutan dan Konservasi Alam, Departemen Kehutanan.